Hare Krsna,
SB 10.12.40-42:
Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said: O learned saints, the childhood pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa are very wonderful. Mahārāja Parīkṣit, after hearing about those pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, who had saved him in the womb of his mother, became steady in his mind and again inquired from Śukadeva Gosvāmī to hear about those pious activities.
Mahārāja Parīkṣit inquired: O great sage, how could things done in the past have been described as being done at the present? Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa performed this pastime of killing Aghāsura during His kaumāra age. How then, during His paugaṇḍa age, could the boys have described this incident as having happened recently?
O greatest yogī, my spiritual master, kindly describe why this happened. I am very much curious to know about it. I think that it was nothing but another illusion due to Kṛṣṇa.
O my lord, my spiritual master, although we are the lowest of kṣatriyas, we are glorified and benefited because we have the opportunity of always hearing from you the nectar of the pious activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Sūta Gosvāmī said: O Śaunaka, greatest of saints and devotees, when Mahārāja Parīkṣit inquired from Śukadeva Gosvāmī in this way, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, immediately remembering subject matters about Kṛṣṇa within the core of his heart, externally lost contact with the actions of his senses. Thereafter, with great difficulty, he revived his external sensory perception and began to speak to Mahārāja Parīkṣit about kṛṣṇa-kathā.
Suta Goswami’s beautiful narration of the conversation between Pariksit Maharaja and Sukadeva Goswami resembles the expert narration of theatrical play of actors on a stage. An expert narrator like Suta Goswami provides vivid descriptions and sensory details of Krsna’s pastimes that help the audience visualize scenes and immerse themselves in the story. Not only that, but he is also able to capture, understand and convey the emotions and motivations of the characters (Pariksit Maharaja and Sukadeva Goswami), creating a deeper connection with the pastime.
Suta Goswami’s narration is imbued with a profound sense of reverence and curiosity, reflective of the sacred and wondrous nature of the pastimes being recounted. He exudes a tone of respectful admiration as he addresses the learned saints, highlighting the extraordinary and enchanting childhood pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The mood is one of awe and devotion, emphasizing the divine and miraculous qualities of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.
Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s inquiries to Śukadeva Gosvāmī are filled with sincere curiosity and a deep desire for understanding. His respectful address, “O great sage,” and his expression of curiosity about the temporal discrepancies in Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes reveal his earnest quest for spiritual knowledge. Parīkṣit’s mood is one of humble reverence towards his spiritual master, combined with a thirst for the divine nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī’s reaction to Parīkṣit’s inquiries is profoundly mystical. As he contemplates Kṛṣṇa within the core of his heart, he momentarily loses contact with his external senses, indicating his deep absorption in the divine. This momentary lapse into a state of transcendental meditation highlights the powerful effect of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes on a realized soul. The effort he makes to revive his external sensory perception and resume the narration underscores his dedication to sharing the divine stories with Mahārāja Parīkṣit.
The overall mood of the narration is one of sacred devotion and spiritual absorption. The narrators, Sūta Gosvāmī and Śukadeva Gosvāmī, convey the divine and miraculous nature of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes with a tone of deep reverence and spiritual intensity, while Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s inquiries reflect his humble devotion and eager curiosity to learn more about the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Not to overlook another narrator of this beautiful conversation. Our beloved Srila Prabhupada. He speaks with a tone that conveys the sacredness and confidentiality of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s activities. His words underscore the exceptional fortune required to hear such divine pastimes, highlighting the spiritual privilege of those who can access this knowledge. Sūta Gosvāmī’s description of Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s self-reflection reveals a layer of humility and penitence. Mahārāja Parīkṣit, despite possessing the noble qualities of a kṣatriya, sees himself as the lowest among them due to his past misdeed. Srila Prabhupada emphasizes Parīkṣit’s humility and remorse, particularly in his interaction with the brāhmaṇas, which adds depth to his character as a devoted disciple. The mood is thus a blend of respect for the divine, acknowledgment of human fallibility, and the earnest pursuit of spiritual enlightenment through humility and devotion.
I must say that I feel extremely fortunate to be able to hear these divine pastimes of Krsna coming through the medium of our parampara – starting with Sri Narada Muni advising Srila Vyasadeva to broadcast the sublime and spotless glories of the Personality of Godhead, through Sukadeva Goswami, Pariksit Maharaja, and Suta Goswami, through Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura instructing his disciple Srila Prabhupada to publish the books in English for the western world, through Srila Prabhupada’s realization through his purports, and finally through our dear teachers who are conducting this wonderful course. Not to forget my dear classmates who are receiving this transcendental knowledge with equal attention, devotion, and relish as the sages of Naimisaranya. Perfect sadhu sanga!!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 